In his 2017 State of the Union address, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker re-affirmed the European future of the Western Balkans countries:

"If we want more stability in our neighbourhood, then we must also maintain a credible enlargement perspective for the Western Balkans. It is clear that there will be no further enlargement during the mandate of this Commission and this Parliament. No candidate is ready. But thereafter the European Union will be greater than 27 in number. Accession candidates must give the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights utmost priority in the negotiations."

All Western Balkan countries have the chance to move forward on their respective European paths. The Commission assesses all the countries on the basis of their own merits and at the speed at which they achieve progress in meeting the established criteria.

This requires efforts on key reforms including the rule of law and fundamental rights, tackling corruption and organized crime, improving the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration and the economy, and fostering good neighborly relations and solving bilateral disputes. The indicative milestones for 2018 can be found here.

The strategy presents six new flagship initiatives to support the transformation of the Western Balkans (1) strengthen the rule of law, (2) reinforce engagement on security and migration, (3) enhance support for socio-economic development, (4) increase transport and energy connectivity, (5) digital agenda for the Western Balkans, and (6) support reconciliation and good neighborly relations.

The EU has long supported the European perspective of the Western Balkans. The future of the region as an integral part of the EU is in the Union's own political, security and economic interest. The EU's enlargement policy is part and parcel of the larger strategy to strengthen the Union by 2025.

All the documents on EU Western Balkans enlargement strategy and action plan can be found here.